Monday, October 15, 2012

Jackie Guthrie, the wife of Arlo Guthrie for 43 years, has passed away after battling liver cancer. She was 68.

How long Guthrie had battled the disease is unknown but the family made her situation public in a post on Arlo's official website on September 18. By that time, and in subsequent posts, it was made clear that doctors were doing their best to keep her comfortable.

The couple had married in 1969 and had children Abe, Cathy, Sara and Annie. Abe and Sara are part of the group the Guthrie Family Legacy with their father Arlo.

Arlo posted the following to his site on Monday:

Dear Friends,

This morning Jackie left her body surrounded by her family and a few friends. She called her family to her about 3 this morning to let us know she couldn't fight any longer. She was at peace with the life and dreams we shared together for almost 45 years. We stayed at her bedside through the morning until about 11:45 when she gently breathed her last breath. She will remain in our hearts and memories as she does for many of you. Thank you for your prayers and notes… With Love, adg

He followed later in the day with this heartfelt message.

Epilogue

Dear Friends

The sun rose on my world this morning. Jackie stayed with us throughout the night, lingering in our hearts just out of sight but clearly present. She woke me before sunrise in a dream saying that the hour had come when she would need to leave us and be gone before the sun arose. As her words awakened me I walked outside and stood looking over the river talking with her in the predawn twilight we both loved so much. It was our time and for years she brought me coffee as I took photographs of morning on the river.

There are loves, and there are LOVES. Ours was and will continue to be what it has always been - A very great love. We didn't always like each other. From time to time there were moments when we'd have our bags packed by the door. But, there was this great love that we shared from the moment we met - a recognition - It's YOU! And we would always return to it year after year, decade after decade and I believe life after lifetime.

I can hear the household awakening now as I ramble through my thoughts and feelings. I am needed elsewhere. So a new day begins, another chapter in the book of our love. It seems to me already written although I can't remember what happens next. All I know is, I've read it before and it ends well.

I've had to cancel and postpone a few shows coming up. I will make them up as soon as possible. The tour will begin with the gigs scheduled for Canada, and I will move ahead through the rest of whatever happens next. Our wonderful guru, Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati always reminded us to stay in the moment - no thought of the past or future. The moment is all we really have, the rest is fiction. Jackie and I lived that teaching as best we could and I will continue to be present and accounted for.